It’s a fix Port Stephens Council hopes might give boaties a little more peace of mind after an earlier upgrade left them a little cold.
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The Karuah facilities underwent the first step in a two-stage project over winter.
Until the second stage is funded, it’s hoped the bright orange buoy line (pictured) might cure one of their big concerns.
That being boats drifting under the gantry on the incoming tide.
“We had to come up with a solution,” the council's community and recreation coordinator Brock Lamont said.
“After speaking with the locals the guys in projects management came up with a solution.”
The design spans the gap between the shore and the pontoon, beneath the gantry, and is able to rise and fall with the tide. The idea was to catch the boats before they reach the gantry or the rocks.
“Early feedback from people launching and retrieving their boats has been positive, saying it will definitely make it safer for boat access on a running tide,” Mr Lamont said.
An application is under way for a second stage of boat ramp improvements.
”If we receive the funding we’ll be able to replace the timber [jetty] structure. So we’ll have two structures either side the ramp, moving with the tide,” Mr Lamont said.
The boat ramp upgrade caused waves among users in September because it didn’t resemble what had been discussed.
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